Agreed: Bring back CHL!

Re-launch of Champions Hockey League is Europe’s prime goal

The European associations, leagues and the IIHF are committed to the re-launch of the Champions Hockey League for 2010-2011. Photo: Getty Images / Bongarts

ZURICH – The International Ice Hockey Federation has entered into an agreement with the relevant national member associations and Hockey Europe to secure a re-launch of the Champions Hockey League for 2010-2011.

Hockey Europe is the union of the professional hockey leagues from the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Included in the agreement is a settlement that compensates the clubs that qualified for the 2009-2010 Champions Hockey League, which was cancelled on June 15, 2009 due to the global financial problems.

“This agreement marks an extremely important step towards the re-launch of the Champions Hockey League,” said IIHF President René Fasel. “We are all in it together now as the IIHF, the national associations and the leagues have agreed to settle our differences and the common objective to focus on a successful re-start of the league.”

Peter Gudmundson, General Manager of Hockey Europe said: “We are in a very exciting and dynamic phase in European club hockey right now. But regardless of what the best way may be five or ten years from now, the Champions Hockey League is right now the superior alternative and to get the league re-launched and underway in autumn of 2010 is our goal.

"Together with the IIHF, we are equal stakeholders in the league and we are committed to the effort.”